EXTERMINATION OF DEER

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 190, 14 May 1928, Page 10

EXTERMINATION OF DEER

Sir, —Judging from some ’ remarks made by the AVeliington Acclimatisation Society, it is-gathered that they are not altogether in favour of the extermination of deer in our forests. I would like to point out that the greatest authorities iu the world have given it as their opinion that goats, deer, and indeed all herbivorous animals, are harmful to our forests, and it is hoped that the Acclimatisation Societies will realise that, they have a duty to our country which should rise above any mere shooting desires. Further, deer, goats, ete., destroy the floor of the forests, whicii is the real controller of water flow ami cheek of excessive run off, causing sudden floods and then drying up of river mid stream beds. This sort of thing is inimical io trout as the cover in streams is scoured out. by tlie floods only to be followed by loss of fish when a stream becomes a mere succession of pools. It is thus to tlie very interests of fishermen that these deer be exterminated, and it is trusted acclimatisation societies will recognise that their interests are in jeopardy from tlie same cause as the wellbeing of the Dominion IST I’aekakariki, Alay 1.0.